Lee Calls Obama Victory a “Transformative Moment”

By Post Staff Local Congresswoman Barbara Lee praised President-elect Barack Obama’s historic victory, saying the stage is set for the country once again to  respect human rights, tackle poverty and promote opportunity. Lee, who served as Western Regional Co-Chair of Senator Obama’s campaign, overwhelming won her  own reelection campaign, receiving 86 percent of the vote. “This is a transformative moment in United States history,” she said. “When Dr. King spoke a generation ago of the dream he held for America, he envisioned exactly this type of moment, where a man was judged by his character, his intellect  and his hard work –and not by the color of his skin or his race or his ancestry. “We can return to our proudest national attributes: a respect for the rule of law, a promotion of and respect for internationally recognized human rights, and the effective use of diplomacy and international economic development to tackle poverty and provide opportunity — here and abroad — that will help build the foundation of peace and cooperation and still the momentum towards global strife and conflict.” As a member of Congress and the Congressional Black Caucus leadership, Lee pledged to work closely with President-elect Obama during his transition and during his Presidency. “There is much to do to reverse the damaging  policies of the last eight years, and there is much to do to move our nation into its remarkable third century – one unshackled from the burdens of our past and limited only by our capacity to dream a new future,” she said. Lee said that Obama’s victory represents a  major defeat for  the Republican strategy of  winning elections by sowing division and launching cultures wars. “While those wars are not completely behind us, today’s election should give pause to those who seek to falsely divide us, and it should give hope that we are a nation ready to be united in our diversity, strong in our differences and proud of our democracy,” she said.